Health care personnel to be given guidelines on female circumcision

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The circumcision of girls and women is becoming a more and more topical issue even in Finland, as a result of the increasing number and spectrum of ethnical minorities and their mobility, says Marja Tiilikainen of the Finnish League for Human Rights.
      While there is no certain information of circumcisions being performed in Finland, Tiilikainen believes that some persons resident in Finland might be taken abroad for a circumcision.
      The Finnish League for Human Rights is today publishing a guidebook Female circumcision in Finland for social welfare and health care personnel. This is the first guide on this topic in Finland.
      Circumcision is an issue that involves a number of wrong beliefs and prejudices both among immigrants and health care personnel.
     
A survey among African immigrants claimed that the most radical, so called Pharaonic operation, is not supported any more, whereas it is unclear whether smaller incisions are being performed or not.
      According to Qualified Nurse Saido Mohamed, who has held debates among female African immigrants, mothers are not willing to speak of circumcision to their daughters, because sexual issues are a taboo among the immigrants.
     
The immigrants avoid using the word mutilation, when speaking of circumcision. For female immigrants circumcision is a tradition and part of their cultural identity, says Mohamed.
      Consequently, instead of accusations, it would be preferable to give the immigrants correct information about the health dangers that can be caused by the operation.
     
Public health nurses have to possess the required skills and courage to bring up the topic with their clients, particularly at mother and child clinics as well as at school health centres.
      Mutilation of women's and girls' genitals is a punishable act under the Finnish Penal Code. Moreover, in Finland children have the same rights whether they are originally Finnish or from another country.


Links:
  The Finnish League for Human Rights
  Ministry of Social Affairs and Health: Female Genital Mutilation

Helsingin Sanomat